Artificial limb.



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ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

(Application led Aug. 30

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No. 688,3". Patented Dec. lo, lem. L. E. JEPsoN.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

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N0..688,3|I. Patented Dec. I0, |901.

L. E. .IEPsorI ARTIFICIAL LIIII'B.

(Application filed Aug. 30, 1991.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOWELL E. JEPSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.v

ARTIFICIAL I IIvIB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,311, dated December10, 1901. Application led August 30, 1901. Serial No. 73,767. (Npmodel.)

T0 all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, LOWELL E. JEPsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inArtiicial Limbs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear,'and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My present invention has for its object toi provide an articial leghaving certain features of improvement hereinafter set forth; andto thisend it consists of the novel devices and combinations of deviceshereinafter described, and delined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a side elevation showingan artiiicial leg embodying myseveral features of improvement. Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig.1, but showing the leg bent at the knee, as will be the case when thewearer is seated. Fig. 3 is a front elevationpof the leg, some partsbeing broken away; and Fig. 4 is a detail view, in side elevation,showing one of the elastic supporting-webs removed from working positionand some parts thereof being broken away.

The numerals l and 2 indicate, respectively, the lower andv upperleg-sections or socket-like members, which may be assumed to be of theordinary construction, articulatedi at the knee-joint by metal straps orhingeirons 3, the pivots or hinges 4 of which aord the knee-joint.

The numeral 5 indicates the so-called slipsocket, which telescopesfreely into the upper end of the lower leg-section l and is vfree foroscillations on 'its vertical axis.

Secured at each side of the upper leg-section l is aV strong elasticwebbing 6, preferably afforded by several plies or thicknesses ofcovered elastic. The upper ends of the elastic webbings 6 are shown asdirectly secured to the sides of the upper leg-section 2 by means ofclips or keepers 7. At their lower free ends the Webbings 6 are providedwith metal clips 8, having depending ears between whichantifriction-rollers 9 are pivotally mounted.

Flexible suspending-straps l0 work freely over the said rollers 9, andthe depending ends thereof are secured by eyelets 11 to the upperportion of the slip-socket 5. These suspending-straps'lO are doubled, sothat they are passed through the eyes ll, and to make the sameadjustable, so as to compensate for stretching of said straps orwebbings, they are provided with buckles 12. The eyelets 11, to which aparticular strap l0 is connected, are located one at'the front and oneat the rear of the knee-joint or hinge 4.

With the suspending devices for the slipsocket above described saidslip-socket is supported with freedom for oscillations `on itsvertical-axis, and the antifriction supporting rollers or guides 9permit the straps l0 to freely move to permit this movement of thesocket. This free oscillation of the socket on its vertical axis is ofthe greatest importance and gives the artificial leg a torsionalflexibility which is almost identical with that of the natural leg. Toillustrate the importance of this torsional or twisting flexibility ofthe leg, suppose a fireman on a locomotive be shoveling coal from thetender into the fire-box, which requires a swinging movement of thebody. With an artificial leg as ordinarily constructed this swingingmovement of the body will cause the foot of the artificial leg to swingor slip over the floor, thus putting very undesirable strains on theleg-stump. However, with my improved leg this swinging movement of thebody will simply cause the slip-socket to turn within the lowerleg-section, it being understood, of course, that the thigh portion ofthe crippled leg is free to turn within the upper leg-section or socket2.

From the above illustrations it becomes evident that theantifriction-rollers are required in order to insure at all times thefree movements of the supporting-straps lO and that these free movementsof the straps are necessary in order to secure the proper results.

vBy reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be noted that when the knee isbent, as indicated in said Fig. 2, the slip-socket 5 is permitted tolower into the lower leg-section and with respect to the knee-pivot 4,this movement being due to the fact that slack is given to thesuspending-straps 10. This receding or down- IOO ward movement of theslip-socket 5 loosens the same from the leg-stump, and thus relieves thesaid leg-stump from pressure while the wearer is seated or while theknee is bent, as indicated. As the straps 10 run freely on the rollers9, the webbings 6 will not be pulled out of the direct line of strain orout of the position relative to the upper leg-section indicated in thedrawings. In walking the weight of the body is of course taken by thefiexible webbings 6. In the walking action the rollers 9, as is evident,oder a minimum of resistance to the knee-joint movement of the leg.Hence these rollers for this reason, as well as others mentioned, arelimportant factors.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as follows:

l. In an artificial leg, the combination with upper and lowerleg-sections articulated at the lknee-joint, of a slip-sockettelescoping into said lower leg-section, strap-supporting rollerscarried by said upper leg-section, and suspending-straps working oversaid rollers, each strap having one end connected to said slip-socket atthe front and the other at the rear of the knee-joint, whereby, when theknee is bent, said suspending-straps are relieved of strain, saidslip-socket is permitted to lower and the leg-stump is relieved frompressure, substantially as described.

2. In an artificial leg, the combination with upper and lowerleg-sections articulated at the knee-joint, of a slip-socket telescopinginto the lower leg-section, elastic supportingwebs secured on the sidesof the upper legsection and having strapsupporting rollers at theirfree, lower end, and adjustable supporting-straps working freely oversaid rollers, the ends of each strap being connected to saidslip-socket, one at the front and the other at the rear of ltheknee-joint, substantially as described.

3. In an artiticial leg, the combination with upper and lowerleg-sections articulated at the kneejoint, of a slip-socket telescopinginto the lower leg-section and provided with the eyelets 1l, elasticsupporting-Webs 6, secured on the sides of the upper leg-section andhaving strap-supporting;r rollers at their ends, and the double andadjustable supporting-straps 10 working freely over said rollers andpassed through the eyelets 11 on said slipsocket, said parts operatingsubstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOW ELI, E. JEPSON.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH KILILLY, F. D. MERCHANT.

